Suns' Dudley: 'I want to be the solution, not the problem'

Phoenix Suns guard Jared Dudley (3) and teammates react during a time out near the end of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in Boston, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013. The Celtics won 87-79. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

The Phoenix Suns have been unable to solve the woes that have plagued them for the majority of the season.

On the heels of head coach Alvin Gentry's remarks the team could be on the verge of a ‘youth movement', one of the Suns' veterans said he would like to be a part of any rebuilding phase in the Valley.

"I love playing basketball. I love doing that but there are not too many spots better than Phoenix," Jared Dudley told Arizona Sports 620's Doug & Wolf Show on Tuesday. "I know we're not doing well. I am a guy that likes to stick through the situation through the highs and lows. When we turn it around hey ‘I was here through the bad, I was here through the good' and I want to be the solution not the problem."

Part of rebuilding a winning brand is bringing in younger talent and a fresh perspective. The Suns are an aging bunch and currently the 12th-oldest team in the NBA.

Dudley is realistic he could be part of trade discussions to help the team obtain pieces for the future but the Suns' swingman said he understands trade speculation is also part of the game.

"You have to get yourself a value and a brand in this NBA and I see that and with that makes more money but also could be more value for a trade and I see that," Dudley said.

Despite the team's current struggles, Dudley believes the Suns do possess a few solid players who could provide long-term value moving forward.

"We have nice pieces to build on," Dudley said. "I think that somebody like myself, I am a guy who can start on this team but yet if they brought in some big time players I could easily be a sixth man. I think I am versatile.

"You've got Marcin Gortat who is a young big man who his shot-blocking has improved. He needs to work on his post moves but he's someone who can get you a double-double. You've got someone like young [Dragic] who's now kind of turning over the face of the franchise, trying to be groomed as a point guard who's been in Phoenix and Houston who definitely needs to develop."

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The Suns hold the second-worst record in the Western Conference and find themselves 8.5 games out of the final playoff spot.

Dudley thinks with a few key additions the team may not be far away from getting back on the winning track.

"You've got three good core pieces and you've got a lot of first round picks, you've got a lot of stuff to work with," Dudley stated. "We haven't put it all together this year and some of it has to do with nine new guys and different stuff but you definitely have areas where you can make this happen and I think free agency and draft the Phoenix Suns will be back hopefully at the top where they once were."